8 June 1679: At death’s door, Brian Bentley, the Halifax Poet, refuses a cap unless it be a barley-cap
Oliver Heywood. 1881. The Rev. Oliver Heywood, B.A., 1630-1702, Vol. 2. Ed. J. Horsfall Turner. Brighouse: A.B. Bayes. Get it:
.Unedited excerpt
The excerpt in the book is shorter, edited and, where applicable, translated.
Brian Bentley of Halifax (whom they called the Halifax Poet because he was a great versifier) taught school in his latter days in the Back-lane, was well descended, had a great estate but had spent it, being very fat fell suddenly ill on Lord’s Day morning June 8 1679, and they asked him if he would have a cap; he swore he never wore a cap unless it was a barley cap, but he without any sense and remorse presently after breathed his last, and was buried the day after being June 9 1679, oh dreadful, God is righteous, he had given himself to jests and vanity.
Comment
Comment
OED: “to have on or wear a barley-cap: to be tipsy; hence barley-cap = tippler.” Heywood says he was 64, so he didn’t do badly. None of his verses survive, but see his relative, Joseph Bentley.
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- Alcohol (drug) (62) W/G ·
- Barley (5) W/G ·
- Beer (36) W/G ·
- Divine retribution (3) W/G ·
- 📌Halifax (43) W/G ·
- Humour (29) W/G ·
- Obesity (5) W/G ·
- Poetry (75) W/G ·
- Teacher (1) W/G ·
- West Riding of Yorkshire (151) W/G ·
- Whisky (1) W/G ·
Comment
Comment
OED: “to have on or wear a barley-cap: to be tipsy; hence barley-cap = tippler.” Heywood says he was 64, so he didn’t do badly. None of his verses survive, but see his relative, Joseph Bentley.
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Similar
31 October 1684: Mrs Taylor of Brighouse, a Quaker, is buried upright next to her husband and daughter in their garden
Comment
Comment
Grain mills and a malthouse on the 1840s map, but our brewers are gone. It sounds like life was hard for professional brewers in Yorkshire:
In several of the northern counties in England, where they have good barley, coke-dried malt, and the drink brewed at home, there are seldom any bad ales or beers, because they have the knowledge in brewing so well, that there are hardly any common brewers amongst them. In the west there are some few, but in the south and east parts there are many (Ellis 1742).
An interesting-sounding Yorkshire oat beer (Ellis 1743).
Another advantage these gents had was Holbeck water:
The village is on the south side of the river Aire. It was formerly in repute for its spa, the water of which resembles that of Harrogate, though of inferior strength; but from the sinking of numerous wells for the supply of works in the vicinity, the water, which previously rose to the surface, is only to be obtained by pumping from a considerable depth: it is much esteemed for culinary uses, and is carried through the streets of Leeds for sale (Lewis 1842).
Ron Pattison on March and October beer, with several process descriptions:
The best months for brewing were March or October because the ambient temperature was optimal. Though some thought March best, most brewers preferred October because it was followed by 6 months of relatively cool weather, perfect for maturing beer (Pattison 2008/08/24).
See also his post on early 18th century beer styles (Pattison 2008/08/22).
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